The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

A young girl falls in love and tries
to make her relationship work while also designing the perfect shoe.

Nenson (The Anemara Orchid,
2010) tells the story of the uniquely named Francie Lanoo, a teenage girl with
two main passions—one for shoes and one for the mysterious new guy in school,
Berkeley Mills. After months of ogling him from afar and hiding her feelings,
Francie is shocked to discover that Berkeley returns her feelings. So begins a
blissful relationship, during which Berkeley encourages Francie to pursue her
interest in creating art and designing her ideal shoe. Her interests land
Francie in a prestigious yearlong design program in Italy. Despite her
reservations, Berkeley assures her that he wants her to go, and so she does. As
time passes and temptation mounts, Francie considers the depths of her feelings
for Berkeley. When the two go to college, they must decide if they can continue
to manage a long-distance relationship. Nenson has drawn a witty, appealing
character in Francie, whose fresh voice and quirky interest in shoes make her an
appealing lead. The tale sometimes falters with predictable moments and
dialogue that tries too hard (how many young boys say things like “I’m trying
to ensnare you”?). And the novel is overlong; chunks that just describe Berkeley and Francie’s early bliss
could easily be cut. Yet overall, it’s fun, engaging, and surprisingly
poignant—rather than ending when Berkeley and Francie get together, the story
follows them into adulthood as they grapple with real questions.

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